The Anambra State Police Command on Sunday Easter day expressed “serious concern” over the growing trend of some security operatives concealing their identities while providing protection to Very Important Personalities (VIPs) within the State.
It noted that the “use of masks by operatives particularly in non-operational or public-facing assignments such as VIP protection, makes it difficult to verify legitimacy and could be exploited by criminal elements to perpetrate unlawful acts under the guise of security duties.”
State Command Spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement raised alarm that “the Command notes that while security duties often require tactical discretion, the act of masking identities without proper authorization raises significant security concerns.
“Such practices, it observed, not only pose a potential threat to public safety but also undermine trust, accountability, and the integrity of inter-agency collaboration.
To this end, the Commissioner of Police CP Ikioye Orutugu fwc mnips PhD reiterates that identifiable security personnel remain a critical component of coordinated security operations, especially in an environment that demands synergy among various agencies.
“The use of masks by operatives, particularly in non-operational or public-facing assignments such as VIP protection, makes it difficult to verify legitimacy and could be exploited by criminal elements to perpetrate unlawful acts under the guise of security duties.
“The CP therefore, calls on all security agencies operating within the State to ensure that their personnel are properly identified at all times while on routine or protective duties, except in clearly defined tactical operations sanctioned by appropriate authorities.
“Anambra State Police Command remains dedicated to upholding professionalism, accountability, and public trust in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.”